April 25 COVID-19 update: Two deaths, 399,745 vaccines, 249 new cases, 290 recoveries

Vaccines Reported

An additional 7,451 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in Saskatchewan, bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 399,745. 

The 7,451 doses of COVID-19 vaccine reported today were administered to residents living in the following regions: Far North West (39), Far North Central (6), Far North East (48), North West (1,102), North Central (615), North East (596), Saskatoon (2,517), Central West (75), Central East (276), Regina (430), South West (495), South Central (79) and South East (913).  There were 260 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Fifty-seven per cent of Saskatchewan residents over age 40 have received their first dose. Thirty-eight per cent of those 18+ and thirty per cent of the total provincial population have received a first dose.

All vaccine administration details for the province, including first and second doses, can be found at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness.  As the source database for vaccine information, Panorama is subject to continuous data updates which may result in revised counts, day over day.

Vaccination Booking System Open to Ages 44+

Eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program is currently age 44 and older, except for the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, where it remains age 40 and older.  This applies to all immunization clinics: booked appointments, drive-thru/walk-in and mobile.

Please remember that demand for appointments outweighs current available supply. Additional clinics will be added as new vaccine shipments are received.

Appointments can be made online at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19. People who do not have a cell phone or email account, need assistance in booking, or are providing documentation for priority eligibility status must book by calling 1-833-SaskVax (1-833-727-5829).  Additional information on how to book your appointment is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-vaccine-booking.

Please do not call until you are eligible to book your vaccination appointment.

Daily COVID-19 Statistics

There are 249 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on April 25, bringing the provincial total to 39,932 cases.

There are two (2) new deaths reported, both in the North West zone. One is in the 50 to 59 age group and the other in the 80+ age group.

The new cases are located in the Far North West (17), North West (12), North Central (7), North East (5), Saskatoon (42), Central West (1), Central East (15), Regina (101), South West (8), South Central (6) and South East (27) zones.  Eight (8) new cases have pending residence information.  Four (4) cases with pending residence information have been assigned to the Far North Central (1), Far North East (1), North West (1) and Regina (1) zones.

Recoveries total 36,942 and 2,515 cases are considered active.

There are 186 people in hospital.  One hundred and thirty-seven (137) people are receiving inpatient care: Far North East (1), North West (8), North Central (7), Saskatoon (46), Central East (5), Regina (57), South West (2), South Central (3) and South East (8).  Forty-nine (49) people are in intensive care: North Central (2), Saskatoon (13), Central East (3), Regina (30) and South West (1).

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 case number is 251 (20.5 new cases per 100,000).  A chart comparing today's average to data collected over the past few months is available at https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness/covid-19/seven-day-average-of-new-covid-cases.

There were 3,423 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on April 24, 2021. To date, 753,179 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.   As of April 23, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan's per capita rate was 631,943 tests performed per million population.  The national rate was 807,923.

As of April 24, 6,026 variants of concern have been identified by screening in Saskatchewan, reported in the Far North West (81), Far North East (2), North West (149), North Central (88), North East (12), Saskatoon (619), Central West (77), Central East (251), Regina (3,447), South West (160), South Central (455) and South East (617) zones. There are 68 screened VOCs with residence pending.

There are 92 new lineage results reported today. Of the 2,152 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 2,138 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), nine (9) are B.1.351 (SA) and five (5) are P.1. (Brazilian).  The Regina zone accounts for 1,510 (70 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.

Please note that these VOCs may have been initially identified by means other than screening (i.e. selection for whole genome sequencing without screening). Whole genome sequencing results to identify lineage are included in the screening results. Confirmed variant of concern cases may appear in both columns on the website, depending on testing for that case.  Adding the cases identified by screening and those that have received whole genome sequencing may result in double-counting individual cases.

Further statistics on the total number of cases among health care workers, breakdowns of total cases by source of infection, age, sex and region, total tests to date, per capita testing rate and current numbers of confirmed variants of concern can be found at http://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-cases.

All Public Health Measures Extended to May 10

Due to increased COVID-19 transmission risk throughout the province, the Chief Medical Health Officer has extended all current provincial public health orders until May 10, 2021.  The orders will be reviewed at that time. Full details on current public health measures can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-measures.  

All residents are urged to adhere to best personal protective measures:

·         Wear your mask in all public places including all workplaces.

·         Wash non-medical masks daily.

·         Maintain physical distancing.

·         Wash your hands frequently.

·         Reduce activities outside of your home.  Order take-out or curbside pick-up.  Work from home if you are able to do so.

·         Avoid all unnecessary travel throughout the province at this time.

If you have any symptoms, stay home and arrange for a COVID-19 test.  If anyone in your home has symptoms, the entire household should remain home until the test results are known.  Testing information is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information.

Enforcing Public Health Measures 

Enforcement of public health orders is permitted under The Public Health Act, 1994.  Public health inspectors will be supported in their efforts to ticket violators to ensure that businesses and events are brought into compliance as quickly as possible, in addition to the enforcement efforts that have been undertaken by police agencies in the province.

For more information on current public health measures or to see the Public Health Order, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-measures.

General COVID-19 Information

General public inquiries may be directed to COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca.

Know your risk.  Keep yourself and others safe: www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/about-covid-19/know-your-risk.